The streets echo with the sound of heavy bells carried by strong
men, horn blowing, and especially the peculiar triad rhythm
of a brass band accompanying the chant of Mänz, Mänz, Mänz,
Bodefridimänz. Clemenz (Mänz) Ulrich tried unsuccessfully in the
1920s to convert the wild chasing of St. Nicholas by village youths
into something more civilized. His successors had better luck in 1928,
when they founded an association to maintain and preserve the
Klausjagen custom.
In
its earlier and even in its current form, the custom
reflects ancient cultic origins which are barely superseded by
the appearance of St. Nicholas in his bishop's robes. The whipcrackers
noisily announcing the arrival of the procession, apparently share
these same origins.
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